About the Validity of socialist politics by Abdullah Öcalan (Part 3)
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This text is part of the book “To insist on socialism is to insist on humanity”, written by Abdullah Öcalan in the 90s as a response to the fall of “Real Socialism”, arguing for the necessity to develop a new socialism for the 21st century.
America is still the emperor on the international strategic level, within which Turkey and its leadership hold an important place. Regarding the Balkans, the Caucasus, and the Middle East, they have strategic relations with the Turkish leadership. Perhaps in the future this relationship may even grow stronger. However, such a relationship does not have to last forever or be inevitable. The development of this relationship is also associated with its uncertain nature. They don’t abandon Turkey but knowing that at the same they must always be looking for alternatives. This is often emphasized by Turkish prime ministers with the words "They support us a lot; for the first time, there is such high international interest in us; our strategic importance has been understood." Yes, they understand it, but they also know that Turkish leadership is temporary. Because the USA sees that they can no longer accomplish this work solely through agents and therefore develops other measures.
The attitude of the USA could roughly be portrayed as follows: In their strategy, it says, "We will treat Turkey in its decline with the same utmost care, regardless of whether it is 24 hours or one hour before." However, on the other hand, they panic about the question of what can be done against it. While they label the PKK as the number one terrorist, they also consider how to establish direct or indirect relations with the PKK. For this, they mobilize their collaborators, even invite them to special occasions, and engage all their small and large agents. They want to develop a moderate wing within us, to turn on the so-called “green lightbulb1”. They pursue this with great persistence. Especially when they loudly cry "terrorist PKK," they mean pleadingly: "develop a moderate PKK." This shows that they are in a tight spot and also reveals that they are very close to recognizing our political power, us the PKK, including our military forces, and therefore will not hesitate to seek contact with us.
It would be a mistake to believe that the US strategy will not show interest in an emerging revolutionary development and only try to stifle it with defamation methods, such as calling it "terrorist." The USA will strive to interfere in the internal affairs of the revolution. If they fail to identify a moderate wing, they will try to develop one. They would maintain this attitude, even if they exist by then, 10 or 50 years after a revolution's victory. We have no doubts about this. (...) We will closely monitor their strategy, their relationships, and their goals. Therefore, we do not fear them and are not afraid to establish contacts with them. However, we will remain sceptical of their intentions, goals, and imperialist exploitation values. We must understand them very well, see their political intentions of today and for the next 10 or 50 years, and work against them. We will establish contacts with them to get to know them better and to demand accountability from them for their years of undignified politics against us.
Is humanity at its end?
It is impossible to overlook the power of the USA as the greatest emperor of our time and not consider him from all angles. Above all, it is not possible to deny him, whether we have relations with them or not. It is important to fight against them when there are no relations with them. But it is especially important to fight against them when we have the best relationship with them. If imperialism evolves through its constant renewal, so must our revolution do to be ready for battle against him at all times. This is necessary for our victory and for great development. It is entirely obvious that imperialism exists and that it is not eradicated. In the Turkish left, it used to be widespread to talk about imperialism but today this no longer discussed from them, as if imperialism doesn’t exist any more. There is imperialism, but in such a way that it dominates the innermost being of people. Through the enhancement of its methodology and its concentration, it resides in the minds and hearts. Instead of crude militarism, crude political repression, and crude economic colonisation, a new form of imperialism has emerged that goes beyond the individual as a human being. So their current development is based on driving people into culturelessness and emotionlessness, stirring up human instincts, and animalizing the human being.
These aspects of imperialist development must be seen. Imperialism is attacking nature and the environment, the soul and history of people. The destruction of the environment, that has become known in recent years as "environmental pollution", which has made nature incapable of continuing its own existence, expresses the ruthlessness of the imperialist attack. The attacks against the history and historical values of people are extensive. With the so-called "American way of life," the imperialist American Lifestyle, all ethical values, historical consciousness, and historical values of people are to be forgotten; summarized under the motto of "there is no history" or that "the end of history has come". Is it really history that is at its end? Or is it imperialism that is dying out and is at its end due to its permanent loss of history? Or is humanity at its end?
These questions must be pursued. Imperialism blackens the soul and conscience, also because it is not based solely on pure profit. Certainly, there is still gross exploitation. But today we are confronted with the fact that it has taken possession of the hitherto unconquered human soul and commodified it, just like women and human emotions. Under the name of globalization, the diversity of nations, cultures, and the souls of peoples are destroyed. Imperialism has declared war on these values. Through boundless support for international speculation (stock exchanges, banks...), monopolies, and multinational corporations, it has created the basis for his attacks to gain a foothold. It is apparent that imperialism is neither regressing nor ending. On the contrary, its development is evident. Imperialism is not at its end, instead it is deepening, expanding, and penetrating into the psyche of people. Of course, a process of disintegration of imperialism is also conceivable, as every process contains a phase of development and decline. Consequently, the process of de-imperialization would begin here instead of imperialism. However, the opposite tendency should be seen in the current development. A weakening and regression of imperialism would be evident if, firstly, states become increasingly independent, and secondly, peoples move united towards common living. While the first phase of imperialism is characterized by the phase of national liberation and gross exploitation of labour in the 19th century, the 20th century is defined by the second phase. Ultimately, both major phases have led to a regression of imperialist exploitation and political oppression. Most likely, the 21st century will be the century in which the damage caused by imperialism in the minds, souls, and cultures of people will be overcome. As such in this century it specially falls on us the responsibility to repair the damage to the environment, to solve the problem of population growth, to end the so-called “end of history” and the consumption of historical values; to stop the suffocation the human soul; to end the commodification of women, to prevent the marketing and exploitation of sexuality, and to enable women to serve humanity, to reconnect them with human culture, history, and nature. With conviction, I can already see today that the liberation of women emerges as the most important goal of the revolutions of the 21st century.
In this sense, it is not the end of revolutions, but instead we are entering the phase of revolutions that require profound and sensitive work. In other words, this means that we have left the phase of brutal class and national struggle and are entering the phase of profound social, cultural, intellectual, psychological, and ethical revolutions. These are at least as significant as military, political, and economic revolutions. How can one speak of a healthy revolution or a healthy life without the spiritual, social, and natural revolution of humanity? Consequently, it will be necessary to confront the intensified and internalized attacks of imperialism with profound, spiritual, ethical, moral, historical, and global revolutions.
The rest of The World will not just stand by
While the USA plays the role of a leading actor and emperor, Germany will certainly not just stand by. This is because Germany has imperialist interests in both the 19th and 20th centuries. For this reason, it caused two great world wars and several small wars. From fascist expansion to genocide, Germany has become a curse for humanity. Germany not only carried out the mass murder of the Jews, but also allowed the murder of the Armenians through the support of Ittihat and Terraki2. Can one overlook the German support in the war in Kurdistan today? Indeed, it is very important to understand and analyse the share of German imperialism in mass murders both inside and outside its borders.
Japan is building itself up and is on the verge of expanding worldwide. For this, it must feed this fascist regime and is always careful not to lag behind the USA and Germany. Behind the pretext of developing the Middle East lies the intention to economically subjugate and expand into that region. It awakens very late and brings development to a bad end. Also, a precise assessment of the regression in Russia is of great importance. Is Russia imperialist? Will the collapse of real socialism bring imperialism to Russia, or will a new socialist development be initiated? To answer these questions, the contradictory political character of Russia must first be discussed. It is clear in Russia that the collapse of real socialism did not bring about the end of the country. Today, a struggle between developing socialist, nationalist, and capitalist-interest forces is dominant. These contradictions make it possible to build new relations with imperialist countries. Therefore, Russia's role in the Balkans, the Caucasus, and the Middle East must be carefully examined.
What way will the Kurdish revolution find?
The increasing contradictions of imperialism raise questions about what ways the Kurdistan revolution will find and how it can make use of them. The dissolution of real socialism has led to the sharpening of contradictions in the imperialist countries. This state of affairs compared to the previous status quo allows for more positive intervention and is closer to a positive disintegration. The Chaos, termed the "New World Order" by the USA, also increases the chances of the revolution.
Additionally, there are some changes in our region in the Middle East. Currently, it seems that the well-known Arab-Israeli conflict is heading towards compromise. This process will not bring about fundamental peace and therefore not the desired readiness for compromise. Because Israel or its Zionist manifestations will not be limited to Israel alone. Zionism is a force that has support worldwide and is influential. Israel will not be satisfied with Palestine and the Arab states. Its interest will be to expand its sphere of influence.
Its influence on Turkey and the Turkish leadership is quite obvious. We also know that it wants to expand its relations with the Turkic States through Turkey. It is also known that many Arab leaders rely on Israel. For this reason, the before mentioned Arab-Israeli conflict cannot easily be resolved through compromises. On the contrary, contradictions will deepen through the mentioned policy. However, the path of compromise is necessary; on the one hand, because the political balance of power requires it, and on the other hand, because it becomes clear that the old methods of conflict resolution do not advance either side. These forms of confrontation will therefore become more and more meaningless. Neither the Arabs could eradicate Israel according to their wishes, nor could Israel force the Arabs to their knees. In the case of both sides, there can be no talk of absolute victory. Ultimately, both were forced to start peace talks. Neither side was able to build the foundation for their respective intentions in advance and realize their plans. So they chose the middle path and are currently engaged in dialogue. However, it must be emphasized that just as a military end to the conflict is not possible, neither would in this way a long-term, stable, and strategic peace be possible. This is an undecided phase, characterized by the indecision shaping the politics of compromise. This fragile condition can be destroyed at any time. There will be compromises, but inside them the seeds of conflict are also being planted.
At this point, the situation of Iran must also be considered from the eastern perspective. Iran is a state that has always been in conflict with the leaderships of the Arab states, the Caucasus, and the Middle East. The long-standing Iran-Iraq war was based on historical contradictions. Thus, Iran is also in conflict with Turkey. This is not primarily about religious differences. The conflict between the two has political reasons and is the result of historical contradictions. Therefore, it is difficult for Iran to make compromises with Turkey, and even more so, to develop a friendship based on trust with Turkey. This also applies to Iran's relations with Iraq and other Arab states. Therefore, Iran will always be the biggest source of contradictions of our region. Iran had this attitude both in the time of the Shah and in today, and probably will maintain it in the future. However, he cannot overcome its contradictions with wars or through stable compromises.
Humanity must be defended
Undoubtedly, imperialism will no longer be able to proceed as it did before with brutal attacks against people's revolutions and social structures alone. It will apply other methods and it is already doing so. It refers to its technological achievements and can therefore comprehensively guide the world psychologically. It installs scientific and technical leadership worldwide and intends to take people hostage through its technological development. It will no longer use atomic bombs because otherwise, it would have no world to live in itself. Nor is it necessary for it to occupy further territories because there is hardly a place left that it has not occupied, and it is no longer needed. For imperialism, it has become a necessity to consider another form of occupation, another type of weapon technology. These intentions are already being implemented. This can be called psychological warfare. In this context, it also uses these profound methods and will continue to exploit them. It is about planting wars in the minds and souls of people and wage them there. It will further develop the newly created degree of dependency of minds and souls. Therefore, the revolution of the mind, the soul, and its particular methodology is necessary. This means a revolution for independent thinking, for not selling the soul, and for defending elementary human values. We can also call this a defensive revolution.
Because if the intention is to destroy our humanity, it must be defended. If the environment is being destroyed, then appropriate technical means must be taken to prevent it and defend it. We will stand against the timeless destruction of social groups and nations, as well as the destruction of languages and cultures. In fact, a new kind of illness has arisen from driving people into stress and tension. Perhaps stress has even become the cause of all illnesses. The human being must find in himself the task of salvation. Stress is a phenomenon of imperialism, as are new diseases. The fight against them is anti-imperialist struggle. The forms of this struggle must be found. It becomes apparent that revolution is the only solution to these phenomena. For it is the inherent nature of the imperialist development to bring many diseases. It can only be overcome by a new social order – that is, by a revolution. We will also find the necessary technology for this. For socialism, a new theory is emerging. The theories of socialism of the 19th century cannot make a successful contribution in this phase. This means that we cannot enrich socialist theory with the evaluations and imprinted theories of socialism of the 19th century or with the evaluations of national liberation revolutions and imperialism of the 20th century. We can contribute to socialist theory by not only exposing and analysing the problems of our current time, the 21st century, but also by developing the necessary methodology for their solution. However, the necessity of a new theory does not mean completely denying the past.
Contributing to socialism means enriching the mentalities and tactics of struggle of the party according to the times, without denying its old positions and methods. We can talk of contributing to the old socialist fighting tactics through the development of new tactics. The time of classical theory and practice of socialism is neither over nor has socialism suffered a decisive defeat. On the contrary, it will become a great force through the implementation of the required new theories and new practical forms. And it will a force to fight against imperialism and its main representatives as much as for the transition to a new stage of socialism. The collapse of real socialism in the Soviet Union does not mean that everything is over. The achievements of that time will open the way to new forms of socialism. The successes of small and large countries and peoples in this period scientifically shows that the creative essence of socialism makes this unavoidable and brings to light that this is the true nature of socialism. This can be seen in our own experience too and is not difficult to apply this analysis to the land which we have chosen as our objective.
1This is a reference to a meeting with a Turkish politician who travelled to England in the 90s to discuss how to deal with the PKK and afterwards said that a “green lightbulb” had been turned on, referencing the permissions to start a new attack
2 Ittihat and Terraki: Organizations of the so-called Young Turks around Mustafa Kemal “Atatürk”.
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